As many as 100 junior doctors of the Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad went on a flash strike on Wednesday after two junior doctors were assaulted.
Junior doctors Pranav and Nayeem, who are training to be house surgeons, were physically assaulted by the relatives of a patient who died early in the day. They were attacked with stools and chappals, and while Nayeem suffered mild injuries, Pranav sustained nasal injuries.
Manoj Sathwik, a junior doctor who was part of the strike, told TNM that the incident took place at 4 AM when Muneer, a 70-year-old patient died due to a serious kidney-related ailment.
The junior doctors were chanting slogans of ‘aawaaz do hum ek hai’ and ‘we want security’, and were protesting in front of the Emergency Ward. They demanded stern action against the offenders, and also demanded security as they claimed that this was just one among the many attacks against them.
Narrating the incident, Satvik, another junior doctor said, “The patient was refused services at Yashoda Hospital, following which he was brought to our hospital at around 11.30 PM. He was being treated at the emergency ward, and knowing that his condition is critical, we asked them to get his ECG done.
Manoj, a medico, alleged that they never returned from the ECG, but took him elsewhere. When the people attending to Muneer brought him back at 4 AM, he was already dead, he said.
The police tried to negotiate with the doctors to continue with their services, but the Director of Medical Education, Gandhi Hospital, categorically refused. He said that the protests will continue until the offenders are taken to task.
Speaking to TNM, he said, “A series of attacks have been happening against doctors. We are unable to perform our duties, fearing attacks. This is not the first such instance. Earlier too such incidents have happened. We want stern action against such offenders and a government policy to provide security to the doctors. We shouldn’t fear to perform our duties.”
Based on the complaint from the Director, the Chilakalaguda police detained one of the assaulters.
However, the doctors clarified that emergency services were still available as senior doctors were taking care of them.